Heavy rainfall that caused severe flooding along the coasts of West Africa last month was intensified by climate change, according to researchers. Scientists have determined that global warming transformed an otherwise routine weather event into a significant climate disaster, underscoring the urgent need for affected countries to adjust to accelerating environmental shifts.

Over a 72-hour period, the coastal regions of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria experienced intense rainfall, with some urban areas recording more than 140 millimeters of precipitation in less than 24 hours. This level of rainfall led to widespread flooding, damaging infrastructure and disrupting communities.

Friederike Otto, a professor of climate science at Imperial College London and a member of the World Weather Attribution group, explained that such extreme rainfall is now about five times more likely due to the ongoing changes in the global climate. The increased frequency and intensity of these events pose significant challenges for the affected nations, many of which already face vulnerabilities related to infrastructure and economic capacity.

“The climate is changing faster than most nations can adapt,” Otto said, highlighting a growing gap between the pace of climate change and the ability of communities to respond effectively. She emphasized that while adapting to these more frequent extreme weather events is critical, substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions remain essential to prevent further escalation.

The findings reinforce warnings from climate experts about the escalating risks climate change poses to vulnerable regions, particularly those with limited resources to implement adaptation measures. Governments and international agencies have been urged to prioritize both mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce the impact of future extreme weather events on West Africa’s coastal populations.